I just caught a NOVA episode a few days ago about Hubble
I enjoyed it
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/i...-universe.html
They mentioned toward the end that a new one is in the works that is going to be placed out past Mars I believe
I just caught a NOVA episode a few days ago about Hubble
I enjoyed it
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/i...-universe.html
They mentioned toward the end that a new one is in the works that is going to be placed out past Mars I believe
For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe
There is the James Webb Telescope (named after the second NASA administrator (served from 1961 to 1968)).
The telescope, when launched, will be placed at a point called "L2" (LaGrange point 2) which is one of several LaGrange locations around earth where the gravity of the earth and sun cancel out and create true zero-G spots where a satellite can orbit the point in a stable manner without using any propellant.
The SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) sits at L1 which is between the earth and the sun. The L2 point sits BEHIND the earth. Therefore, the James Webb telescope uses the earth as a huge, permanent sun shield.
LaGrange Points
If all works well, the JWST will be able to see about twice the distance of Hubble, and in more wavelengths.
The primary mirror consists of many individual hexagons made of beryllium (a very light and strong metal) plated in gold (to efficiently reflect infrared radiation to the detectors). The segments are connected to actuators and can be individually focused under computer or manual control. The mirror is 6.5 meters in diameter (21.5 feet) compared with Hubble's 2.4 meters (8 feet).
I think someday NASA should place a HUGE telescope on the moon. Stable platform, no distorting air, constantly rotates giving a 360 degree view of the universe. Only problem would be protecting it from the monthly day and night temperature swings of +250 degrees F to -250 degrees F!
Gentlemen may prefer Blondes, but Real Men prefer Redheads!
Here's a puzzle for everyone:
We all know that several hundred miles above the earth's surface the air pressure is virtually zero (a "vacuum") and would suck any air out of an open container.
So, imagine a hypothetical 100 mile long "pipe", one end on the earth's surface and the other end 100 miles up in "space".
Would the low pressure - virtually a vacuum - suck air up into the pipe and eventually make the entire earth a vacuum?
Please explain your answer.
Gentlemen may prefer Blondes, but Real Men prefer Redheads!
Sorry Krupski but that won't work. The reason there is a "vacuum" in space is because of gravity. Gravity causes matter to coalesce and "atmosphere" is matter - just very light matter. The "gravity well" formed by any planet, in this case Earth, would pull matter towards its bottom. The only way a space elevator could use air pressure to get its payload to space is to pump it in under extremely high pressure at the bottom and force the capsule upwards.
Unfortunately, there probably isn't anything available at this time strong enough to hold that high a pressure that can overcome gravity.
“I have little patience with people who take the Bill of Rights for granted. The Bill of Rights, contained in the first ten amendments to the Constitution, is every American’s guarantee of freedom.” - - President Harry S. Truman, “Years of Trial and Hope”
I've been working on an idea for a while now
So far the only payoff was reimbursement to my neighbors livestock
For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe
I guess you both missed the point. The "trick" question (which, believe me, DOES stump a lot of people) had to do with whether or not the low pressure at altitude would suck air up from the bottom of the pipe. It wasn't a "space elevator" question.
Anyway, the answer is that nothing would happen because the mass of the air inside the pipe would hold it in place same as the air outside the pipe.
Kinda like putting a straw into a glass of water. Nothing would happen.
Gentlemen may prefer Blondes, but Real Men prefer Redheads!
Bookmarks